Draft-gear.



H. A. CHRISTY.

DRAFT GEAR.

' APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30.19I5.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

Lmx,

cars* and pertains more particularly to struc- Keniaan arianne Parana onirica,

HENRY A. CHRISTY, OF KENILWORTI-I, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CAR ROOF i CO., OIE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

DRAFT-GEAR.

memes.

To all. 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. CHRISTY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kenilworth, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft-Gears, of which the' following is a specification.

The invention illustrated, described, and claimed inthis application, relates to the draft-gears or draft-riggings of railway tures of this general character equipped with friction shock-absorbing means.

One of -the-salient' features of the invention is the provision of means of such kind that, the wear ofthe friction elements does not take. place on 4the housing proper, so 4that the latter is not subjected to being worn outsfrom suehpcauses.' A further object .0f the invention is to increase thev friction between the p arts as they move, and, in the preferred embodiments of the invention set forth herein, this is accomplished by means of a wedge acting upon a rocking-member to increase the pressure `of the -latter on ay suitable wear-block which, as it becomes worn, may be backed up for further service and which may be readily replaced lwhen fully worn out.

Having these objects in view it should be borne in mind that the preferred embodimentsvof the invention described below are illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part ofthis specification and 4throughout, the various views of such draw! mg llke reference characters refer to the sameV parts.

j :To those skilledin'this art it will be clear that the above-mentioned aims and urposes as well as others are fulfilled in the employment of devices of this character.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a horizontal section through a draft-rigging incorporating one form of device embodying this invention; Fig. 2 is a similar View of another desirable embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 3 illustrates in. section a fragment of l the housing having the'loearing,orA wear block cast integral therewitlf,a

Specication of Letters Patent.

sill stops 12, 12, as shown.

Patented nee. as, irais. Serial No. 37,167.

IReferring first 'to the structure depicted in Fig. 1, it will be observed that this illus; tration -shows a fragment of a coupler-shank 10a-nd its associated strap or yoke 11. For-v ward and rear draft-sill stops 12, 12, and 13, 13, respectively, are also shown.

Coperating` with the stops 12, 12, is a cast-metal casing or housing 14: having lugs, flange s, or ears 15, 15, adapted under normal condition'sto bear against the front draft- This housing has a portion 16 of reduced cross-section accommodating an outer compression-spring 17 and asimilar smaller inclosed spring 18.

The inner part of the housing is somewhat enlarged at 19 and receives two opposed wear-blocks'20 and 2l, each beveled at 33 and 34 and adaptedto rocken one another lby means of an interposed fulcrumpin 35 received in substantially semi-cylindrical cavities 36 and 37 in the adjacent faces of such members. The lrear ends Vof the springs 17 and 19 bear directly against these blocks or elements and the rear ends of the latter in turn may, under the condition shown in Figf l, bear against the front face of the follower 24. In this particular embodiment ofthe invention the co-acting faces 38 and 39 of the wear-blocks and 40 and 41' of the pivot'ed members are substantially parallel to the axis of the appliance as a whole.

' The operation of this improved and novel appliance occurs practically as follows: Assuming 'that the coupler is drawn forwardly, that is, to the left, as the parts are viewed in Fig. l, the yoke 11 and the follower 24, of course, ,travel with it, the latter leaving the stops 13 and pushing the wedges 25 and '26 forwardly, these in turn forcing the members 31 and 32 forwardly against the action other owing 4to theirl co-action with the fixed beveled surfaces 22 and 23. Such movement of the parts causes a slight rocking of the elements 31 and 32 on their common fulcrum-pin tending to separate their forward ends, in this way increasing their pressure on the wear-blocks and 21, it being under- 'v stood that the surfaces l10 and 38 and 41 and `39 slide on one another, the friction between the various parts acting as a shock absorber substantially without recoil. It should be clear that each of the parts 25 and 26 has a y friction travel on the follower 24, on the corf ing elements have a direct friction bearing responding wear-block, and on the respective rocking member; also that the pair of rockon the faces of the wear-blocks. As these blocks 2O and 21 become worn they may be shimmed out or backed up so as to stand up to the work and if. they become unduly worn they can be readily replaced at small expense. Stated differently, no wear occurs on the housing itself so that the latter does not require replacement. The provision of these two members 31 and 32 capable of rocking on one another permits an increase of the pressure which such members exert on the wear-blocks, and, owing to their pivotal conn ection they can compensate for any 'inequalities or imperfections in the foundry casting of the various parts. Upon release of the strain on the coupler, the lateral pressure of the parts 31 and 32 on the wearblocks decreases, the springs expand2 and the varibus elements are automatically restored to their original positions, all as will be readily understood.

In case the coupler is pushed inwardly instead of pulled outwardly as explained above, then the follower 24 will remain stationary and the inward travel of the coupler will force the housing and itsl springs inwardly, the parts coperating to absorb the shock in practically the same manner as outlined above, lthe relative travel of the I'nembers being substantially the same as when the coupler is pulled outwardly.

. In Fig. 2 a somewhat modified construction is shown and in this instance the wearblocks 50 and 51 are of the same general conformation as tho'seshown in Fig. 1, but have in -addition the enlargements 52 and 53 which make their beveled surfaces 51 and of somewhat greater extent. The companion rocking-members 56 and 57 have their rear ends reversely beveled at 58 and and their front ends are correspondingly beveled' at 60 and 61 so that each member constitutes a double wedge and the two combined form a split double-ended wedge; `Between the members 56 and 57 and the corresponding pressure-blocks 51 and 50 I interpose the beveled blocks or intermediate members 62- and 63 adapted to travel on the faces of the wear blocks and beveled at 64 and 65 to conform to the surfaces G0 and 61. This appliance works on substantially the same principle as that shown in Fig. 1, excepting that the pi'voted members instead of bearing directly on the wear-blocks do'so through the intermediate members 62 and 63.

VVhileI have herein shown two desirable embodiments of the invention, it should be understood and appreciated that many minor mechanical changes may be made in these structures without departure from the substance of the invention -and without the sacrilice of any of its real benefits and advantages. It will be clear that if preferred, the wear-blocks may constitute integral portions of the housing instead of separate elements. I This style of structure is shown in Fig. 3, the housing being characterized 16a and the wear part 20a.

I claim:

1. In a railway-car draft-gear, the combination of a housing adapted to be operatively associated with draft-sill stops and afriction appliance including, a wear-block in and adapted to travel with said housing, a wedge adapted to coperate with the opposed draft-sill stops, and ay pivoted member cooperating with said wedge and wear-block, wherebyrelative travel of the parts causes the wedge to increase the pressure of the member on the wear-block, substantially as described.

2. In a railway-car draft-gear, the combination of a housing adapted to be operatively associated with draft-sill stops, a spring in said housing, and'a friction appliance including a wear block in and adapted to travel with said housing, a wedge adapted to coperate with the opposed draft-sill stops, and a pivoted member acted upon by said spring and co-acting with said wedge and wear-block, whereby relative travel of the parts against the action of said spring causes the wedge to increase the pressure ofsaid pivoted member on the wear-block, substantially as described.

3. In a railway-car draft-gear, the combination of a housing adapted to be operatively associated with draft-sill stops. a

cushion in said housing, and a friction appliance including a wear block in and adapted to travel with said housing, a wedge adapted to coperate with the opposed draftsill stops, and a pivoted member acted upon by said cushion and co-acting with said wedge and wear-block, whereby relative travel of the parts against the action of said cushion causes the wedge to increase the pressure of said pivoted-Inember on tpe wear-block, said cushion constituting the sole cushioning means for the appliance,

`coperate with the opposed draftfsill stops,

a beveled pivoted member coacting with said wedge and wear-block, the wedge being accommodated between the beveled face of the wear-block and the beveled face of the pivoted member, whereby relative travel of the parts causes the wedgel to increase the pressure of said pivoted member on the wear-block, substantially as described.

--5. In a railway-car draft-gear, the combination of a housing adapted to be operatively associated with draft-sill stops, a cushion, and a friction appliance including a beveled wear-block in and adapted to travel with said housing, a wedge adapted to coperate with the opposed draft-sill stops, and a beveled pivoted member coacting with said wedge and wear-block, the wedge coperating with the beveled face of the weareblock and member, said cushion opposing the travel of the pivoted member on the wear-block, whereby relativey travel oi' the parts causes the wedge to increase the pressure of said pivoted member on the wear-block, substantially as described.

G. In a railway-car draft-gear, the combination of a housing adapted to be operativelyassociated with draft-sill stops, a pair of wear-blocks in yand adapted to travel with said housing, a pair of wedges adapted to co'perate with the opposed draft-sill stops, a pair of members adapted to rock on one another and co-acting with said Wedges and wearblocks, whereby relative travel of the parts causes the wedges to increase t-he pressure or' said pivoted members on the respective wear-blocks, substantially as described.

7. In a railway-car draft-gear, the combination or' a housing adapted to be operatively associated with draft-sill stops, apair of wear-blocks in and adapted to travel with said housing, a pair of wedges adapted to cooperate with the opposed draft-sill stops, a pair of members adapted to rock on one another interposed between said wedges and adapted to travel relatively to said wearblocks, whereby relative travel of the parts causes the wedges to increase the pressure of said pivoted-members on the respective wear-blocks, substantially as described.

S. In a railway-ear draft-gear, the combination or' a housing adapted'to be operatively associated with dra i'tsill stops, a pair of beveled wear-blocks in said housing, a pair of edges adapted to coperate with the opposed draft-silll stops, a pair or" beveled members adapted to rock on one another and co-actmg with said wedges and wear-blocks, the wedges acting upon the bevf eled faces of said wear-blocks and pivoted members, and cushion means interposed between said housing andpivoted members, whereby relative travel of the parts causes the wedges to increase the pressure of said pivoted members onV the wear-blocks, substantially as described.

In a railway-car draftgear., the combination of a housing adapted to be operatively associated with draft-sill stops, and a frlction appliance including a wear-block in said housing, a wedge adapted to coperate with the opposed draft-sill stops, a doublewedge member co-acting with said wedge, and an intermediate pressure-transmitting member `interposed between said doublewedge member and said wear-block, whereby relative travel of the parts causes the wedge to increase the pressure of said inter-1 mediate member on the wear-block by means of double-wedge member, substantially as described.

10. In a railway-car draft-gear, the combinatiori of a housing adapted to be operatively associated with dra'ft-sill stops, and a friction appliance including a wear-block in said housing, a wedge adapted to cooperate with the opposed draft-sill stops, a pivoted double-wedge member co-acting with said wedge, and an intermediate pres-` sure-transmitting member interposed between said double-wedgezmember and said wear-block, whereby relative travel of said parts causes, the wedge to increase the pressure of said intermediate member on the wear-block by means of 'saidpivoted member, substantially as described. Y

llfIii a railway-car draft-gear, the combination of a housing adapted to be operatively associated with draft-sill stops, a pair of wear-blocksl in said housing, a pair of wedgesadapted to coperate with the opposed draft-sill stops, a double-ended wedge member co-acting with said wedges and composed of two parts adapted to rock on one another, and intermediate pressure-transmitting members interposed between 4said double-wedge member and said wearblocks, whereby4 relative travel of the parts-causes the wedges to increase the pressure of said intermediate members on the wear-blocks by means of the4 double-wedge member, substantially as described 12. In a railway-car draft-gear, the combination of a housing adapted to be operatively associated with draft-sill stops, a pair of beveled wear-blocks in said housing, a pair of wedges adapted to coperate with the opposed draft-sill stops, a double-ended wedge member co-acting with said wedges and composed of two members adapted to rock on one another, and a pair of interintermediate members 0n said Wear-blocks mediate beveled pressure-transmitting memby means of said double-Wedge member l bers interposed between said double-Wedge which co-aets with the beveled surfaces oi 10 memberI and said Wear-blocks, whereby the such intermediate members, substantially as 5 coperation of the Wedges With the beveled described.

faces of the Wear-blocks and the double- Wedge member increases the pressure of said HENRY A. CHRISTY.

Copies of this `patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

